Automobile seat back

ABSTRACT

A device is disclosed for fitting over the back of an automobile seat. The device when used provides increased lateral stability to the driver or passenger of an automobile and in addition supports the person against the webbing, away from the fabric of the seat itself, thereby providing a certain cooling effect. The device includes an elliptical frame having a hanger member attached to the rear thereof for hooking over the back of a seat. Resilient strips connected to either side and the top and bottom of the elliptical frame are woven together to form a webbing against which a users back rests.

United States Patent Slabakov 154] AUTOMOBILE SEAT BACK [72] Inventor:Christo G. Slabakov, 5803 Doral Apts., Bldg. #58,Cornwells Heights. Pa.19020 [22] Filed: April 3, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 25,311

[52] U.S. Cl ..297/23l, 297/453 51 July 25, 1972 Primary Examiner.lamesC. Mitchell Attorney-Gene W. Francis [5 7] ABSTRACT A device isdisclosed for fitting over the back of an automobile seat. The devicewhen used provides increased lateral stability to the driver orpassenger of an automobile and in addition supports the person againstthe webbing, away from the fabric of the seat itself, thereby providinga certain cooling effect. The device includes an elliptical frame havinga hanger member attached to the rear thereof for hooking over the backof a seat. Resilient strips connected to either side and the top andbottom of the elliptical frame are woven together to form a webbingagainst which a users back rests.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 25 m2 3. 679 ".261

SHEEI J. BF 2 IN\ENTGR CH RISTO G. SLABAKOV ATTORNEY PATENTEDJUL 25 m2INVENTZQ CHRISTO G. SLABAKOV ATTORNEY AUTOMOBILE SEAT BACK BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for increasing thecomfort and safety of an automobile operator or passenger. The device isprimarily useful in that it provides increased lateral stability for aperson using a car having either straight-backed or semibucket seats. Inaddition to this function a second primary advantage of the seat back ofthis invention is that the person using the seat back is supported awayfrom the fabric of the seat itself with his back resting against awebbing whereby air is allowed to pass between the seat back and theseat itself, thus providing a substantial cooling effect. In addition tothe above, the seat back of this invention is designed such thatsubstantial support is given to the user thereof in the small of hisback, thus causing the spine to be supported in an upright manner whichhas been found to be much less tiring than the normal position assumedin an automobile seat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The seat back of the present inventioncomprises basically an elliptical frame of a substantially rigidmaterial. Suitable material for this purpose has been found to be asteel tubing which can be formed in the desired shape in manufacture andis not easily distorted thereafter. A secondary supporting member isattached to one side of the elliptical frame and extends outwardly inthe form of a hook therefrom for engaging the top of an automobile seatand supporting the seat back in place. This secondary supporting memberis suitably of the same material forming the elliptical frame but neednot be of as large a diameter as less forces are applied to thissupporting member than to the frame itself. In the preferred embodimentboth the elliptical frame and the supporting member are covered in asoft pliable material, such as a self-curing latex or a plastic materialthat can be wrapped about the member, to provide a pleasing appearanceand additional comfort in use.

In the preferred embodiment, the elliptical frame is wrapped with aflat, plastic, strip material and the supporting member is caused toconform to a certain portion of the length thereof and is attached tothe frame by wrapping the plastic stripping around the concurrentportions of the frame and support.

A web is suspended within the circumference of the elliptical frame forproviding support to the back of a person using the device. The web issuitable formed of the plastic stripping concurrently with wrapping theelliptical frame. Preferably, the plastic stripping is resilient wherebythe web is made taut as it is formed.

The seat back of the present invention and the many objects andattendant advantages thereof will become more easily understood andapparent upon reference to the following detailed description of apreferred embodiment of the device when reviewed together with theaccompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals denote like parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of the seat backof the present invention showing the webbing suspended within thecircumference of the elliptical frame member;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view showing the seat back suspended over anautomobile seat and the placement of the seat back in relation to aperson using same;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a breakaway view of the structure shown in FIG. 3 showing themethod of attachment of the lower ends of the supporting member to theframe; and

FIG. 5 is a breakaway view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 showing themethod of attachment of the upper portion of the supporting member tothe frame.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring again to FIG. 1 of thedrawing, a seat back in accordance with the present invention is showndenoted generally by the reference numeral 10. The seat back comprisesgenerally an elliptical frame 12 to which is connected a supportingmember 14 for fitting over the top of an automobile seat and supportingthe seat back in position with relation to the seat. The ellipticalframe 12 is wrapped with a resilient stripping material 16, preferably asoft plastic, from which a webbing, denoted generally by the referencenumeral 18 is formed suspended from the circumference of the frame 12.It will be noted that the webbing 18 is woven by inter-crossing thehorizontal strips 20 with vertical strips 22. Preferably the webbingis-drawn tight as it is woven to provide a taut planar surface, 24,against. which a person's back is supported when the device is employed.

Referring to FIG. 3 it may be seen that the supporting member 14 isattached to the frame 12 at each of its lower ends thereof 26 by theexpediency of concurrently wrapping the frame and adjacent lower ends 26of the supporting member 14 with the stripping 16. By having a certainportion of the lower ends of the supporting member 14 conform to thecircumference of the frame 12 a firm bond is made between the frame andsupporting member ends by the webbing.

It will also be noted that the upper portion of the supporting member 14is attached to the top of the frame 12 at points 28 and 30 in a likemanner by wrapping the adjacent portions of the frame and supportingmember together with the stripping l6.

FIG. 2 shows the seat back of the present invention 10 employed over theupright portion of an automobile seat 32. The seat back 10 is positionedby hooking the supporting member 14 over the top 34 of the seat 32 andallowing the seat back to hang down against the front of the uprightportion of the seat 32. It will be noted here that the supporting member14 is formed of a somewhat malleable material such that it can be bentby a user to adapt to various forms of seats.

FIG. 2also served to illustrate the placement of the seat back 10between the upright portion of the seat 32 and a person 36 sitting onthe automobile seat and leaning back against the seat back I0. It willbe noted that the sides of the elliptical frame serve to provide lateralstability to a person employing the seat back and the person's back issupported away from the automobile seat 32 against the plane formed bythe webbing 24. It will also be noted here that the sides of theelliptical frame are curved outwardly from the seat to give addedsupport to the small of the back and to provide the aforementionedlateral stability.

One of the primary advantages of the seat back of the present inventionwill become readily apparent from viewing its use as shown in FIG. 2.The persons back 38 is supported well away from the fabric of the seat32 against the plane 24 formed by the webbing 16. Thus, an air space isprovided between the back of the upright seat 32 and the persons back38. Because of the many air spaces provided by the webbing, air is freeto circulate against the person's back for greater comfort whentraveling in the automobile.

It will also be noted that the seat back is readily hung from ordetached from the automobile seat and may be readily employed ordetached and stored in the trunk with ease.

It will also be noted from the drawing of FIG. 2 that because of theshape of the frame member 12 the webbing 16 causes the person using thedevice to be supported in an upright manner whereby the spine issubstantially vertical. It has been found that when the device of thepresent invention is employed in an automobile having straight-backedseats or semibucket seats the driver or passenger using the seat backgrows much less tired on extended trips. In addition, because of thelateral stability afforded the user he is muchless apt to slide sidewaysor at least have to control himself to keep from sliding sideways as theautomobile is turned either right or left, thus reducing the tiringstrain of long automobile trips.

manner;

b. a unitary supporting member;

c. a single elongated plastic strip concurrently wrapping around saidframe member, and inter-crossing between opposed sides thereof to form awebbing of inter-crossed horizontal and vertical strips and wrappingsaid frame member and the end portions of said supporting member to forma bond between'said frame and said supporting member and furtherwrapping said supporting member.

1. An automobile seat back comprising: a. a rigid elliptical framemember, the sides of which bow outwardly away from an automobile seat ina concave manner; b. a unitary supporting member; c. a single elongatedplastic strip concurrently wrapping around said frame member, andinter-crossing between opposed sides thereof to form a webbing ofinter-crossed horizontal and vertical strips and wrapping said framemember and the end portions of said supporting member to form a bondbetween said frame and said supporting member and further wrapping saidsupporting member.